Hey there, One can get special powers through mindfulness? That's the first time I ever heard mindfulness could do that.If someone has these powers, it only proves that one is very proficient in mindfulness of conceptual reality, ultimate reality or both? I guess I always just assumed "powers" could only come from samadhi concentration but I don't know -Thanks

We have people our temple " meditation group" who have developed some skills or powers but this is usually from attaining higher levels of jhanas. I can not give you say if this is possible only with mindfulness but what i do know is that mindfulness leads to higher concentration and that can result in developing such.

Yes, there's a discourse in the scriptures where it is said that the practice of mindfulness can lead to mind reading.

He turns his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' (Jhana Sutta - Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation)

Digity wrote:Yes, special power is developing awareness and understanding what's going on in your mind to put an end to suffering.

The foremost power indeed.

Metta,Retro.

"When we transcend one level of truth, the new level becomes what is true for us. The previous one is now false. What one experiences may not be what is experienced by the world in general, but that may well be truer. (Ven. Nanananda)

“I hope, Anuruddha, that you are all living in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes.” (MN 31)

Let me tell you what these "powers' are. It is us becoming closer to what we really are. It is not something "special". When we meditate and are mindful, we return to our "normal" state. These "powers" are acquired by returning to who we really are, so it is not us "gaining" these powers, It is us "returning" to these powers we already have. A quote that I have read that is true, "We are not human beings having spiritual experiences, We are spiritual beings having human experiences."

Strive4Karuna wrote:Yes. 100 % Possible. I have "gifts" which are underdeveloped which become stronger through mindfulness and meditation.

Im sorry but realized this said "through mindfulness" not through "mindfulness and or meditation". I know for sure through the combination of both yes it is possible. Through mindfulness a lone? Im not sure.

Be VERY AWARE, not to get corrupted by powers. We do not pratice in order to gain special powers to think we are better then everybody else. NO. Everybody has the potential to gain these powers but we pratice in order to end our suffering and attain the ultimate goal. NOT, to gain special powers. Remember this!!

After an experience of what somebody call "meditation madness" (and let the mind cool down isolated from other people), I'v had a period of a couple of months of a special mindful state. Could "read minds" by just watching the "non-verbal language", and it was very interesting to have that ability, but also a little disturbing. Disturbing, because it gave a certain feeling of being able to control other people. It's facinating to just watch the other persons changing "masks" to accomodate all different personal situations and needs, and to be able to "see" what is really going on in their ordinary minds.

But all of this wasn't to me, a "special power", it was just a period of "extreme" and stable mindfulness.